title: Accuracy of prenatal culture in predicting intrapartum group B streptococcus colonization status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of group B Streptococcus (GBS) cultures at 35-37 weeks of gestation relative to GBS colonization status at delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rectovaginal swabs from 221 women at labor in four Lisbon hospitals were collected for GBS screening according to the CDC guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PPV was 24.4%. IAP was administered to 100% of prenatally GBS positive women. There was no case of early onset GBS disease (EOD).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor accuracy of prenatal cultures in identifying true candidates for IAP highlights the need for Portuguese clinical and laboratory guidelines to prevent EOD and antibiotic overtreatment of pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health , Lisbon , Portugal .
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Florindo
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Damião
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Isilda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: Lurdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viegas
authors.forename: João P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Borrego
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008875:Middle Aged; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D036801:Parturition; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult